Historical Fiction from Jeff Hepple

[koland]

Here's a comment I received on my blog about Jeff's work:

Hello Karen. Just a short note to thank you for having introduced me to Jeffrey Hepple in his Gone for Soldiers Series. I have to say, having bought all three when one was free, I was glad I had done so. I could hardly put them down. While I did not feel the second two were quite as compelling as the first one, I must point out that the revelation (no spoiler here) in the second book literally stopped me cold and I had to put my Kindle down for the night I was so disappointed in Marina. Mr Hepple is clearly a winner and embroils the reader in history pulled along by the readers personal bonding with the fictional characters.
So, not so brief as intended but I look forward to this new 'prequel' with hopes it pulls me into the rest of the La Malinche Series.

Three cheers to Jeff for letting us have the prequel for free!

[Jeff]

Thank you, everyone. I hope you all enjoy the new book.

Trying to discuss both series in this thread has become a bit messy so I started a new thread for the The Legacy of La Malinche series.

If Ann and Betsy agree, I'll start another for the Gone for Soldiers series before the next book in that series is published.

Any suggestions about how this thread should be handled? Would it be best to just let it die or have it locked?

[Susan in VA]

Trying to discuss both series in this thread

Wait, I'm confused.  I thought this was all one big series??  Starting with the American Revolution and continuing to follow the same family (more or less) until modern times?  Did I get that wrong?

Any suggestions about how this thread should be handled? Would it be best to just let it die or have it locked?

My $ 0.02:  Just let it be...  There will always be new people discovering each of the books, and maybe they'll add on here.

[Jeff]

Wait, I'm confused.  I thought this was all one big series??  Starting with the American Revolution and continuing to follow the same family (more or less) until modern times?  Did I get that wrong?

You didn't get it wrong, I did.

I originally intended that it would be a single series but for technical reasons I had to make it two: Gone For Soldiers and the Legacy of La Malinche series.

The last book of the Gone For Soldiers series will be Under The Apple Tree, the prequel to Lonely is the Soldier, which is the first book of the Legacy of La Malinche series.

[Susan in VA]

Technical reasons??  Now I'm even more confused...

I know that at some point (maybe several pages back in this thread, even?) you listed all the books, written and un-written, with a brief description of each.   It looked like a nice clear timeline...

[Jeff]

Technical reasons??  Now I'm even more confused...

I didn't understand volumes and series when I first started publishing so I didn't set up the first three books properly. Amazon's rules won't permit me to change things now.

[geoffthomas]

Well I don't care how they are organized.
I know that I will be re-reading all of them.

Thank you again for providing such terrific reads.

[Susan in VA]

I know that I will be re-reading all of them.

Me too, when I can read them all in chronological order (which I know will be a while).

Meanwhile, started Treasure last night...  only had time for a few pages so far, though.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Well I don't care how they are organized.
I know that I will be re-reading all of them.

Thank you again for providing such terrific reads.

Agreed.  I'm really, really, really enjoying Lonely is the Soldier. 

[Jeff]

Thanks, friends. I'm glad you like it, Gertie.

Over a hundred people have used Karen's free coupon code for Lonely is the Soldier on Smashwords and it's sold a few copies on Amazon.

Unfortunately, one of my anti-fans from here at Kindleboards has found Karen's blog. That takes some of the fun out of a new book.

[Susan in VA]

There are always going to be some who don't like a book.  Don't let it get you down.

[tlshaw *Padded Cell 511*]

Jeff,I really enjoy your writing. Just remember, if everyone likes you, something is wrong.

[koland]

Thanks, friends. I'm glad you like it, Gertie.

Over a hundred people have used Karen's free coupon code for Lonely is the Soldier on Smashwords and it's sold a few copies on Amazon.

Unfortunately, one of my anti-fans from here at Kindleboards has found Karen's blog. That takes some of the fun out of a new book.

There is always someone who either hates a book (makes you wonder why they finished it) or just wants to bash on something or something for personal reasons.  I think the other reviewer's words outweigh the basher, but I'd also invite those who are enjoying the new book or liked the previous books in the series to post their review (but no bashing of the reviewers) in the comments as well.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

There is always someone who either hates a book (makes you wonder why they finished it) or just wants to bash on something or something for personal reasons.  I think the other reviewer's words outweigh the basher, but I'd also invite those who are enjoying the new book or liked the previous books in the series to post their review (but no bashing of the reviewers) in the comments as well.

As soon as I finish reading it.  I'm having a hard time holding back. 

[Susan in VA]

The latest book left two or three questions tantalizingly unanswered, and I can't wait to find out whether those have already been answered in Treasure.   If not, there's going to have to be another book ....   

[Jeff]

There's another book but I think I'm going to take a detour and write a whodunit first.

[Susan in VA]

Double yay!   

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

There's another book but I think I'm going to take a detour and write a whodunit first.

Torture!!

[drenee]

Okay.... please bear with me here.....  Since I want to read the series in chronological order, I would read....
Gone For a Soldier
Land of the Free
Home of the Brave
To Be Named
To Be Named
Lonely is the Soldier
Treasure of La Malinche I
Treasure of La Malinche II

My son called last night to ask me if Jeff had any new books.  I was happy to find this list so we can read them in order.  I'm a bit OCD about reading in order.
Oh yeah, my son said you are his favorite author, Jeff.  He LOVES your books. 
deb

[Susan in VA]

If I recall correctly, there are even two more missing from that list, right where the "to be named" ones are, so your son will be pleased...

PLUS the two that Jeff promised a couple of posts back!   

[Jeff]

PLUS the two that Jeff promised a couple of posts back!  

My idea for a whodunit required a ride-along with the local police to get a feel for how they operate. They're not interested so I'll scrap that one.

I'm a bit OCD about reading in order.
Oh yeah, my son said you are his favorite author, Jeff.  He LOVES your books.  

Deb - here's the current list of published books and WIP in chronological order. Thank your son for me please and thank you for passing that along.

1. Gone for a Soldier ~ A novel of the American Revolution
2. Land of the Free ~ A novel of the War of 1812
3. Home of the Brave ~ A novel of the Mexican War and Texas Revolution
4. Johnny Comes Marching Home ~ A novel of the American Civil War - Estimated publication date is mid 2010.
5. Under the Apple Tree ~ A novel of WWII - Estimated publication date is early 2011
6. Lonely is the Soldier ~ A novel of modern war
7. The Treasure of La Malinche (Two Volumes) ~ An alternate future novel
8. The Revenge of La Malinche ~ A post apocalyptic novel.

                 

 

[Susan in VA]

Sorry, guess I'm misremembering...  I thought there was going to be a WWI book too, as well as a Vietnam-era one.

As for ride-alongs....  I would keep trying, maybe with a police department in the next town over or something...  they do HAVE programs like that in many cities for kids (usually around middle school) and so they can't be objecting to having a passenger on general principle...  maybe it just means finding the right person to approve it.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

The Revenge of La Malinche ...

I'm with Linc in Somalia right now. 

[geoffthomas]

Great book, huh Gertie?

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Great book, huh Gertie?

You bet!!  May be the best one yet, but I'm torn.  I loved Treasure, especially Vol. 2 and Gone for a Soldier moved me to tears.  Can I put them all in the #1 spot?